Report: UTJ to Trade Yesha Concessions for Yeshivas

The hareidi-religious United Torah Judaism party will give Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a green light for concessions in Judea and Samaria (Shomron) in exchange for "preserving the yeshiva world" and maintaining the status quo on hareidi enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces, according to a Tuesday-morning report by Maariv/nrg. A party source was quoted as saying the party will support the uprooting of isolated communities, agree to freeze construction in communities outside settlement blocs, vote for the cessation of funds for the communities and commit itself to not expanding the large blocs.

The moves are part of document of principles being formulated by senior members of the party, ahead of coalition talks. The newspaper stressed that they mark a turning point in the position of the party, which has, until now, been thought to hold rightwing views on diplomatic issues. The concessions are those that could be led by Netanyahu ahead of next month's scheduled visit by President Barack Obama of the United States.